Storm's 10.4 inches of snow pushes Boulder to season average

By Mitchell Byars and Amy Bounds, Camera Staff Writers

Posted:
04/15/2013 06:43:19 AM MDT

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Monday's storm dumped 10.4 inches of snow on Boulder by 6 p.m., boosting the city's previously below-average snow totals for the season up to the 90-inch average.

The storm prompted a rare afternoon snow-day closure at the University of Colorado on Monday. It also added agonizing hours to the evening commute.

April is now this season's snowiest month, with 24.9 inches recorded through Monday -- and the snow wasn't done yet. The average snowfall for April is 12.5 inches.

Additional snow overnight in Boulder County was expected to vary from almost nothing to up to 6 inches, said Boulder meteorologist Matt Kelsch, depending on the path of the storm.

Snow is expected to continue Tuesday, but lighter, he said. The National Weather Service was calling for another 1 to 2 inches Tuesday morning and then more snow Tuesday night.

The storm is expected to stick around two more days, with more snow Wednesday and early Thursday in the National Weather Service forecast.

"This storm is taking a long time to move on through," Kelsch said.

He said Monday's 10.4-inch total broke the record for the date of 8.6 inches set in 1921.

On Monday, CU announced it would be closing the campus at 2 p.m. due to "deteriorating road conditions and decreasing temperatures." The school planned to announce by 5:30 a.m. Tuesday if the campus will re-open. Check colorado.edu for updates.

Naropa stayed open but encouraged students and faculty members "to use your best discretion" in deciding whether travel was safe enough to come to afternoon classes. Naropa promised a decision on a closure by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Streets iced up Monday night as the temperatures dropped, leading to numerous minor accidents as cars slid off roads or got stuck on hills. The slick conditions and heavy traffic created lengthy commutes for drivers.

Snow builds up on David McFarland's hat as he crosses Norlin Quad at the University of Colorado on Monday. The storm prompted a rare afternoon snow-day closure at CU. (Mark Leffingwell)

The drive from Denver to Broomfield took more than two hours Monday night for some commuters. Even as late as 9 p.m. Monday, commuters were stuck in what they described as a "parking lot" on U.S. 36.

Getting to Boulder from Denver on Monday morning also took about two hours because of a fatal motorcycle accident on U.S. 36 that closed the Boulder-bound lanes from Church Ranch Boulevard to Wadsworth Parkway from about 5 to 10:15 a.m.

Donnie Sullivan waves to an arriving police officer after he swerved to avoid another car in slick conditions and ran into a fence that surrounds the practice field at Folsom Field on Monday, April 15, 2013. (Paul Aiken / Daily Camera)

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